10 Best Shows To Watch if You Like ‘Blue Bloods’

Police dramas aren’t just about blood-related family; they also are about found family. Found family can be colleagues in the forensic lab, case partners, and confidantes. It’s hard to catch a criminal without having someone trustworthy to have your back. While Blue Blood fans are waiting for the next season, there are plenty of other police procedurals with intriguing cases and relationships with plenty of drama.

10. ‘Elementary’ (2012-2019)

Elementary, The Marchioness
Image via CBS

Sherlock Holmes is a classic detective story, and Elementary turns this dynamic duo into a more modern detective tale. Sherlock Holmes (Jonny Lee Miller) and Dr. Joan Watson (Lucy Liu) solve everything from murders to missing person cases across New York City, and later on, in London.

Although they are partners at work, Joan and Holmes also are friends. While Holmes might not have the best relationship with his own family, he is able to rely and lean on Joan for support. Blue Bloods fans will enjoy watching their friendship grow as they solve cases together, and be intrigued by Holmes’ relationship with his own father, Morland Holmes (John Noble), and brother Mycroft Holmes (Rhys Ifans).

9. ‘Bones’ (2005-2017)

Temperance "Bones" Brennan and Seeley Booth in Bones
Image via Fox

Dr. Temperance Brennan (Emily Deschanel), a forensic anthropologist whose nickname is Bones, works for the Jefferson Institute in Washington D.C. She is recruited by FBI Agent Seeley Booth (David Boreanaz) to help the agency solve complex cases. As they continue to solve cases together, Booth and Bones become more than friends.

Like Castle, Bones has some unusual cases that will keep crime fans guessing who-dun-it. The clash between Booth and Brennan’s personalities adds a bit of fun to the pressure around solving gruesome cases. Brennan’s found family is her team, consisting of forensic artist Angela Montenegro (Michaela Conlin), entomologist Jack Hodgins (T.J. Thyne), and Dr. Camille Saroyan (Tamara Taylor), at the lab. Fans of Blue Bloods will love the dynamic between Brennan, Booth, and their friends.

8. ‘Broadchurch’ (2013-2017)

Broadchurch

Fans of Blue Bloods will be intrigued by the drama and gossip swiveling around the residents of Broadchurch. The cases are stretched out in multiple episodes, and this gives slow burn that builds up the drama. Coleman and Tennant give stellar performances, and British TV fans will recognize familiar faces as co-stars, including Jodie WhittakerArthur Darvill, and Carolyn Pickles.

7. ‘Castle’ (2009-2016)

Castle

In CastleNathan Fillion stars as Richard Castle, a murder mystery writer who finds himself teaming up with NYPD Detective Kate Beckett (Stana Katic), after a serial killer starts to mimic murders from his book. Besides his position as a consultant to Beckett’s team, Castle has to juggle his writing with being a father to his daughter, Alexis Castle (Molly Quinn).

The banter between Castle and Beckett alone makes each episode of Castle entertaining to watchFrom the murder of a pop star to a death at a sci-fi conventionthe cases are always interesting and unique as well. Richard Castle’s family is similar to the Reagan family in its complexity. Castle has custody of his daughter, Alexis, due to his ex-wife’s inability to care for her, and his mother, Martha Rodgers (Susan Sullivan), lives with him and Alexis.

Mary McCormack and Frederick Weller in In Plain Sight
Image via Cathy Kanavy/USA Network

USA Network’s In Plain Sight looks at a different side of law enforcement. Instead of solving homicide cases, U.S. Marshal Mary Shannon (Mary McCormack) and her partner, Marshall Mann (Fred Weller), help witnesses go into the federal witness protection program.

This police procedural isn’t all about the cases; Blue Blood fans will become invested Mary’s personal struggles and her relationships with her dysfunctional family. The stress in Mary’s life comes from her family drama. Brandi Shannon (Nichole Hiltz), Mary’s sister, tends to get into trouble alot, and her mother, Jinx Shannon (Lesley Ann Warren), is a recovering alcoholic. Marshall Mann’s blossoming relationship is also centric to In Plain Sight‘s storytelling.

5. ‘Criminal Minds’ (2005-)

The BAU from Criminal Minds Season 9, Episode 14

In Criminal Minds, created and produced by Jeff Davis, FBI’s B.A.U. (Behavior Analysis Unit), led by David Rossi (Joe Mantenga), investigates cases committed by individuals known as “unsubs.” Rossi’s team profiles these criminals to track them down and get justice for victims, as well as, their families.

The BAU team collaborates and works together to solve major cases, which makes them a work family. Criminal Minds is full of quirky reoccurring characters like Dr. Spencer Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler) and Penelope Garcia (Kirsten Vangsness). Blue Bloods fans will fall in love with these characters and the intense drama around each episode’s case.

4. ‘Rizzoli & Isles’ (2010-2016)

Rizzoli & Isles (2010 - 2016) (1)

Rizzoli & Isles, developed by Janet Tamaro, is about Detective Jane Rizzoli (Angie Harmon), who seeks out a new partner after an encounter with a serial killer. Rizzoli finds her match in Dr. Maura Isles (Sasha Alexander), a sharp-witted medical examiner. As Jane and Maura solve cases together, Rizzoli continues to off and on encounter the elusive serial killer, Charles Hoyt.

In her personal life, Rizzoli deals with the ups and downs of life with her Italian-American family, which Blue Blood fans might find evocative of the Reagan family. Despite the big contrast in the personalities, Rizzoli and Isles are best friends, and it is compelling to watch their friendship grow over the course of show. While there are different cases in each episode, serial killer Hoyt and his pursuit of apprentices remains a big plot point throughout Rizzoli & Isles.

Matt Bomer in a promo image for White Collar

As this TV series’ name suggests, White Collar tackles white collar crimes like fraud rather than homicides. The show stars Matt Bomer as Neal Caffrey, a con artist, and Tim DeKay as FBI Special Agent Peter Burke who must closely watch Neal to keep him out of trouble. Peter recruits Neal to help him solve big white collar cases that come across his desk. As Agent Burke and Neal solve cases, they also get assistance from Neal’s best friend, Mozzie (Willie Garson), and FBI Special Agent Diana Berrigan (Marsha Thomason).

Blue Bloods fans will appreciate the diversity of cases that Peter and Neal investigate in New York City. Neal and Peter are an unexpected dynamic duo, which is what makes White Collar an excellent police procedural. Although it is assumed that Neal is estranged from his family, his found family, including Mozzie, June Ellington (Diahann Carroll), and Elizabeth Burke (Tiffani Thiessen) keeps him in check.

2. ‘NCIS’ (2003)

Ziva David and Tony DiNozzo in NCIS

Any NCIS fan knows that Gibbs is one of the best and beloved characters on the show. Blue Blood fans will see parallels between Gibbs and Frank Reagan. With his rules and (somewhat) stern demeanor, Gibbs is essentially a father figure for his team of agents and other co-workers like Abby within the agency.

1. ‘True Detective’ (2014)

True Detective

Blue Blood fans will enjoy how True Detective takes its time with each case and leaves no detail unturned. The detectives and police officers in each season are challenged, and often have to face their own personal issues during their investigations. Some seasons weave in different timelines, which adds to the intrigue and mystery that unfolds with each new clue or revelation.

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